Quality Inspections Help Protect Apparel Company Integrity

As we have discussed numerous times in the past, the fashion industry is not all about runway shows and celebrities wearing trendy t-shirts & designer jeans.  A whole heck of a lot takes place behind the scenes.  Today I would like to remind everyone about the importance of factory inspections.  Not just the sort of inspection that monitors for underage workers and other sorts of human rights issues.  I am referring to the importance of sending inspectors to the factory to monitor the garment quality.  Sure, we can send samples to testing labs, but actual in-factory inspections are more effective for catching issues as early in the production process as possible.

Here are a few issues that a quality inspector will help you monitor:

Critical Defects: review of hazardous or unsafe conditions or non-compliance with regulations, includes sharp points or edges, stray needles left in the garment, loose studs or missing suffocation warning labels.

Major Defects: overall product failure or reduced usability of the product that prevents it from being placed on the market, can include open seams, holes or broken stitches.

Minor Defects: unlikely to reduce product usability, includes items such as loose threads.

During textile and apparel inspections, most inspection agencies conducts the following at minimum:

Fabric Inspection: assesses weight (sweaters), print quality, defects, hand feel to standards.

Garment Labeling: to ensure the care label contains all required information, including registered identification number (RN), country of origin, fabric content, care instructions and attachment of label in the proper location.

Workmanship Assessment: the inspection evaluates stitching, construction, attachments and fasteners, embellishments, shading within a garment, pattern continuity/matching, tapes and linings.

Be certain to consult with your service provider to find out exactly which services they perform during their routine inspections.  If you have special requirements, make sure to put them clearly in writing to avoid any confusion.

Find textile and apparel inspection service providers from the quality assessment section here on Apparel Search.

Again, it is important for clothing companies to go well beyond designing and retailing garments.  Pay close attention to the manufacturing and quality assurance side of the equation.  The fashion industry must do everything we can to ensure high quality for consumers.

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